You have probably heard about applicant tracking systems for
resumes and cover letters when applying for jobs online. When applying for jobs
online, it is of the utmost importance to use as many keywords from the job
description to get through any computer filters. Well, the same holds true for
LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a goldmine for new opportunities. To maximize your
number of options it is really important that you add keywords to your profile
for the job YOU WANT not the job you have right now. This is especially true
for career pivoters who might be changing directions.
How can you do this?
Your “About” (formerly Summary) section on LinkedIn is a great way
to add in a ton of information. Most people fall very short of the 2,000
character limit within this section, which is unfortunate because it is often one
of the first sections people read and it tends to be the most scannable by
recruiters. Within this section, you can
include a list of skills as a running list. Example: Skills/Proficiencies:
MATLAB, Linux, Database Administration, etc.
You can also add in a section or a few lines detailing areas of interest:
Program Management, Consulting, Science Policy, etc. It is also helpful to take
a look at different industries and see what keywords/skill sets are important
to them. You can use this resource from Resume
Worded in order to scan by career path about the most marketable skills for
you to highlight.
